The man who had taken a step outside was taller and broader than the first, his presence commanding attention. His face bore the scars of countless battles, and his eyes held the hardened look of someone who had seen more bloodshed than most could imagine.

As soon as I saw him, I knew—this was someone who had been through wars, someone who had survived when others hadn't.

His aura was heavy with experience, the kind that only comes from being on the front lines of countless conflicts.

'It is tingling.'

There was a certain pressure coming at him, something that I was very well accustomed to.

He took one look at me, his gaze sharp and assessing, before turning to the man who had brought me here. "Hector," he said, his voice deep and gruff, tinged with a slight irritation. "You're telling me this young pup is the one who beat you and your men? Are you mocking me?"

Hector, the man who had led me here, flinched slightly at the superior's tone. "No, Captain," he said quickly, his voice trembling just a bit. "He's stronger than he looks. We… we underestimated him."

The captain narrowed his eyes at me, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be sizing me up, trying to determine if I was worth his time or if I was just another upstart looking to make a name for myself.

I met his gaze evenly, refusing to be intimidated. This was a man who commanded respect, yes, but I had faced worse. Much worse.

The captain's lips twitched into a small, almost imperceptible smile, though it carried no warmth. "You've got guts, kid," he said, his tone laced with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "But guts alone don't get you far in this world."

"No, they don't," I agreed, my voice steady. "But they're a good start."

The captain's eyes flickered with interest, though his expression remained hard. "Puhahaha….." Then he suddenly laughed hard, his hand on his stomach.

The captain's laughter echoed through the courtyard, a deep, almost mocking sound that carried an undercurrent of danger. His men, who had been watching in tense silence, began to close in around me, their hands resting on their weapons, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The atmosphere shifted, the tension thickening as they prepared for a possible confrontation.

I could feel their bloodlust, the hunger for violence that simmered just beneath the surface.

Though many of them were likely 1-star or 2-star Awakened, they were still formidable in their own right.

But it was the captain's aura that truly commanded attention—a pressure that marked him as a seasoned warrior, someone who had ascended to at least 3-star.

The captain's laughter died down, but the smirk remained on his face as he looked at me with a mixture of amusement and disdain. "You've got a smart mouth, kid," he said, his tone laced with a warning. "But you're standing in the middle of my men. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't have them tear you apart right here and now."

The men around me tensed, their hands tightening on their weapons. The captain's words hung in the air, a clear challenge and a test of my resolve.

But instead of flinching, I met the captain's gaze head-on, my own expression calm and unyielding. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I slowly scanned the faces of the men surrounding me, then returned my focus to the captain.

"Because if you do," I began, my voice steady and unwavering, "I'm confident I'll take more than half of these men down with me."

The captain's eyes narrowed, his amusement fading as he registered the seriousness in my tone. Whether I was bluffing or not….It was something that he could not measure at all.

"And considering the state that this town is in, I doubt you can afford to do such a thing."

I kept my gaze locked on the captain's, the tension between us palpable. He was a seasoned warrior, someone who had seen more than his share of bloodshed, but so had I. And in this standoff, I knew I had the upper hand—not just because of my confidence, but because I understood the situation in this town better than he might realize.

As I stared him down, my thoughts drifted back to what Harlan had told me about my mission.

He wanted me to kill the bandits while keeping my sword intact. While that my just sound like a test to me, there was also another reason why he requested such a thing from me.

The town had been struggling ever since most of its Awakened had been sent off to war.

Bandits had taken advantage of the power vacuum, preying on the weak, and those who remained were spread thin, doing their best to maintain order. Every Awakened man in this town was valuable, a crucial piece in keeping the fragile peace that was left.

That led to the situation where the Awakened became more powerful than they were supposed to, with less authority.

By making me deal with the bandits, Harlan also aimed to achieve peace. And, that simultaneously affected the city as well, just like the captain before me.

'And that's exactly why he won't risk a fight he can't afford,' I thought, my confidence solidifying.

The captain's eyes flickered with a mix of calculation and doubt. He was weighing the potential cost of pushing this any further, and I could see the moment he decided it wasn't worth it. His men were watching him, waiting for his decision, and I knew he wouldn't gamble their lives—or his own—on a fight that could leave them weakened.

Finally, he let out a low, rumbling chuckle, the tension easing just a fraction. "You're not wrong," he admitted, his tone grudging. "This town's hanging on by a thread, and I can't afford to lose any more good men."

I held his gaze, my expression unchanging. "Exactly. We both know the value of keeping your forces intact, especially in a place like this."

The captain studied me for another moment, then laughed again, the sound rough but genuine this time. "You're good, kid. Real good. I was testing you, and it seems you passed. Now, what do you want?"

I allowed a small smile to grace my lips, knowing I had gained a measure of respect from this man. "Why don't we discuss that somewhere more comfortable?"

The captain's laughter rumbled once more, and he shook his head in amusement. "Right, right, where are my manners?" He turned and gestured for me to follow. "Come on then. We'll talk inside."

As I followed him into the building, Vitaliara's voice echoed in my mind, [You played that well.]

'I knew he wouldn't take the risk,' I replied mentally. 'It's all about knowing what cards to play and when.'

[You…..You really are reckless.]

"Hehe…."

As I stepped into the building, the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind me, cutting off the outside world. The room was dimly lit, with a few flickering lamps casting long shadows on the walls. The atmosphere was thick with the scent of aged wood and the faint aroma of tobacco, creating a sense of age and history that permeated the space.

The captain led me to a small table near the back of the room, where he finally stopped and turned to face me. His expression was slightly more relaxed now, the tension from our earlier encounter having eased. "I realize I forgot to introduce myself," he said, a touch of amusement in his voice. "Name's Roderick. I'm the one responsible for the garrison here."

"Lucavion," I replied with a nod. "Just a traveler passing through."

Roderick let out a low chuckle as he gestured for me to take a seat at the table. "Well, Lucavion, it seems you've already made quite an impression here in Rackenshore."

"That was not my intention."

I took the offered seat, my eyes scanning the room out of habit before settling on Roderick again. He waved to a nearby attendant, who quickly brought over a tray with a steaming pot of tea and two cups. The captain poured the tea himself, a small gesture of respect that didn't go unnoticed.

We sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds being the soft clink of porcelain and the distant murmur of voices outside. Roderick took a sip of his tea before finally speaking, his tone more serious now. "So, what is it that you want, Lucavion? You didn't come here just to show off your skills. There's something on your mind."

I nodded, setting my cup down as I met his gaze. "You're right. I didn't come here just for a fight."

Roderick raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Go on."

I leaned forward slightly, my voice steady as I explained. "Rackenshore is hanging by a thread, as you said. The bandits around here are a threat not just to the villagers but to the stability of this town. They're taking advantage of the power vacuum left by the war, and it's only a matter of time before things get even worse."

Roderick nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And you think you can change that?"

"I can," I replied confidently. "I am going to clean this place."

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I am open to any criticism; you can comment on things that you would like to see in the story.

And if you liked my story, please give me a power stone. It helps me a lot.